Tennis ball retriever

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for retrieving tennis balls which may be widely scattered on a court or field which comprises a brush element journaled for rotation in a direction whereby the balls are picked up and swept into a receiving chamber as the apparatus is rolled or moved over the field. An arcuate ramp is provided for cooperation with the brush for assuring that the balls will be efficiently picked up and directed toward the receiving chamber, and a deflector plate is provided for moving the balls directly into the receiving chamber in a manner substantially precluding accidental loss of the balls therefrom. In addition, oppositely disposed retriever arm members are provided for dislodging balls from a position adjacent a wall, fence, or the like, and for directing the balls thus dislodged into the path of the brush for sweeping thereof into the storage or receiving chamber.

United States Patent [72] Inventor George W. Full 124 E. 57th Place, Tulsa, Okla. 74105 [21] Appl. No. 789,688 [22] Filed Jan. 8, 1969 [45] Patented July 20, 1971 [54] TENNIS BALL RETRIEVER 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs. [52] US. Cl 214/356, 56/328 [51] Int. Cl 860p 3/01) [50] Field 01 Search 214/356, 355; 198/766; 56/328; 37/52; 172/452 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,482,383 9/1949 Traverso 56/328 2,484,437 10/1949 Wells......... 214/356 2,599,251 6/1952 Garrett 172/452 X 2,817,405 12/1957 Pearson 56/328 X Primary Examiner-Albert Jv Makay Att0mey-Wi1liam S. Dorman ABSTRACT: An apparatus for retrieving tennis balls which may be widely scattered on a court or field which comprises a brush element joumaled for rotation in a direction whereby the balls are picked up and swept into a receiving chamber as the apparatus is rolled or moved over the field. An arcuate ramp is provided for cooperation with the brush for assuring that the balls will be efficiently picked up and directed toward the receiving chamber, and a deflector plate is provided for moving the balls directly into the receiving chamber in a manner substantially precluding accidental loss of the balls therefrom. In addition, oppositely disposed retriever arm members are provided for dislodging balls from a position adjacent a wall, fence, or the like, and for directing the balls thus dislodged into the path of the brush for sweeping thereof into the storage or receiving chamber.

PATENTEB JULZO I97! sum 1 BF 2 INVENTOR. GEORGE W. FOLZ ATTORNEY PATENTED JULZOIB?! 3,593,868

sum 2 BF 2 IN VENTOR.

-96 34 GEORGE w. FOLZ 2L BY 8 6 88 H65 MgEmW ATTORNEY TENNIS BALL RETRIEVER This invention relates to improvements in ball retrieving apparatus and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a tennis ball retriever designed and constructed for sweeping tennis balls form a field, or the like, and efficiently directing the retrieved balls into a receiving chamber.

Tennis professionals, and particularly those professionals who teach tennis, frequently use as many as five hundred tennis balls during a single hour teaching session. It will be apparent that the task of picking up the balls subsequent to a lesson period and before the next teaching session becomes a chore. Various devices have been developed for facilitating the retrieving of the balls, but these devices have disadvantages in that the balls are sometimes missed, or may be thrown completely out of the receiving basket or chamber due to the inherent bounce in the balls. In addition, those balls which lay against a wall, fence, corner, or the like, are usually difficult to retrieve by the presently used ball retrieving devices.

The. present invention contemplates a novel tennis ball retriever which is designed and constructed in a manner similar to the well-known brush-type lawn sweeper, with the direction of rotation of the brush element being reverse from the normal rotational direction of the lawn sweeper device. An arcuate ramp member is secured immediately adjacent the pickup portion of the brush element to assure that the balls picked up by the brush cannot escape or be inadvertently passed over. A deflector plate member is also provided for cooperation with the brush and ramp member for knocking the balls quickly and efficiently into a receiving and storage chamber in a manner substantially precluding accidental loss of the retrieved balls therefrom. In addition, a pair of oppositely disposed retriever arms are provided for dislodging balls which may be laying against a fence, wall, or the like, and for directing the dislodged balls into the path of the brush element for picking up thereby. The novel ball retriever device may be easily rolled along the surface of the ground or area wherein the balls are to be recovered since the weight concentration is relatively low, thus facilitating use of the device.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a novel ball retriever apparatus wherein a brush element efficiently sweeps the balls into a receiving chamber.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel tennis ball retriever apparatus wherein the retrieved balls are directed into a receiving and storage chamber in a manner substantially precluding accidental loss of the balls therefrom. Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel tennis ball retriever apparatus wherein balls lodged against a wall, or the like, maybe quickly and easily retrieved.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel ball retriever apparatus which may be easily moved across the area wherein the balls are to be recovered thus facilitating use of the apparatus.

Other and further objects and advantageous features of the present invention will hereinafter more fully appear in connection with a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a ball retriever apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a ball retriever apparatus embodying the invention with a portion thereof cut away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of a ball retriever apparatus embodying the invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a ball retriever apparatus with portions thereof eliminated for purposes of illustration.

FIG. Sis a broken elevational view ofa wheel and brush element embodying the invention with a portion cut away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 6 is a view taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is an end view of a pinion member as utilized in the invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of FIG. 5.

Referring to the drawings in detail, reference character It) generally indicates a ball retriever apparatus comprising a brush unit IZjournal on a supporting frame structure 14 in the proximity of a ball receiving or storage chamber 16. The frame structure 114 may be of any suitable type, and as shown herein comprises a substantially U-shaped frame member 18 having a floor or bottom plate 20 provided in a portion thereof for stabilizing and strengthening the frame 14 and for supporting the storage chamber 16.

The receiving or storage chamber 116 is preferably of a removable basket-type structure and comprises a pair of oppositely disposed upstanding sidewalls 22 and 24 spaced apart by a plurality of transversely extending rod members 26. The rod members 26 are preferably spaced in such a manner as to define a triangle, as particularly shown in FIG. 4 for receiving a suitable open mesh or screen member 28 therearound which forms a bottom and back for the chamber 16, leaving the front and top portions thereof for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. Of course, the openings of the mesh 28 are sum ciently smaller than the diameter of a tennis ball to preclude passage of a ball therethrough. The entire chamber structure 16 may be manually removed from disposition on the frame 14 for facilitating access to the content thereof for a purpose and as will be hereinafter set forth.

The frame 18 extends rearwardly beyond the basket or chamber 16, as particularly shown in FIG. 3, and a suitable wheel or roller 30 is journaled thereon in any well-known manner for universal pivoting or rotation for facilitating moving or rolling of the apparatus 10 across the surface of the ground, court, field, or the like. In addition, the frame 18 extends forwardly from the chamber 116 with the open ends of the U spaced apart by a suitable crossmember 32 for stabilization and strength. A pair of wheels 34 and 36 are journaled on the opposite sides of the forward portion of the frame 118 in any suitable manner for free rotation, such as by a pair of axially aligned shaft members 38 and 40. The shafts 38 and 40 are disposed in substantial axial alignment and may be rotatably secured to the opposite side arms of the U-frame 18 in any well-known manner (not shown). The brush element or unit 112 is journaled between the wheels 34 and 36 in a manner as will be hereinafter set forth for rotation simultaneously with the wheels in one direction of rotation thereof only.

A pair of forwardly extending diverging arms 42 and 44 are secured to the forward end of the U-frame l8 and a pair of oppositely disposed gusset plates 46 and 48 may be secured between the open ends of the U-frame l8 and the crossmember 32 in any wellknown manner, if desired, for facilitating securing of the arms 42 and 44 to the frame. In addition, it is preferable that the arms 42 and 44 be pivotally secured at 50 and 52, respectively, whereby the arms may be pivoted upwardly to an out-of-the-way position, if desired. Oppositely disposed brace members 54 and 56 may be removably secure between the midportion of the sides of the frame 18 and the midportion of the anns 42 and 44, respectively, if desired, for strengthening of the outstretched arms. Each arm 42 and 44 is provided with an inwardly directed flange member 58 and 60, respectively, and each flange 58 and 60 is provided with a forwardly extending plate 62 and 64, respectively. The plates 62 and 64 are preferably disposed substantially parallel with the horizontal, and are provided with leading edges or corners 66 and 68 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth. A guard plate 70 and 72 also may be provided for each arm 42 and 44 and each plate is preferably secured to the respective arm in the proximity of the inwardly directed flanges 58 and 60 thereof. A wheel or roller 74 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 3) is provided on each arm 42 and 44 and is preferably journaled in the proximity of the outer end thereof for rolling along the surface of the ground, or the like, during use of the apparatus 110.

The brush unit ll2 comprises a pair of oppositely disposed sideplates 76 (only one of which is shown in the drawings) having the forward or leading upper quadrant thereof closed by an arcuate cover member 76 which supports an angular deflection plate 80. The deflection plate 80 extends rearwardly from the cover 78 and extends upwardly at an angle with respect to the horizontal. In addition, the deflector plate 80 is provided with rearwardly extending substantially horizontal portion 82, and opposed sideplates 84 extend along the sides of the plate 80 and horizontal portion 82. The trailing lower quadrant of the sideplates 76 is closed by an arcuate transversely extending plate 86 (FIG. 4) which is disposed substantially diametrically opposite from the cover 78. The upper trailing or rear portion of the sideplates 76 is open in the direction toward the receiving chamber 16 for a purpose as will be hereinafter set forth.

A brush element generally indicated at 88 is journaled between the sideplates 76, and it is preferably to provide each sideplate 76 with an aperture 90 and an open slot 92 in communication therewith for facilitating installation of the brush element 88 of the apparatus 10. The brush element 88 as shown herein comprises a central shaft 94 having a pinion 96 provided on each end thereof. Each pinion 96 is disposed within an internal ring gear member 98 provided within each wheel 34 and 36. Each pinion 96 is secured to the shaft 94 whereby rotation of the wheel 34 and 36 in one direction transmits rotation simultaneous rotation to the shaft 94, whereas rotation of the wheels 34 and 36 in an opposite direction will not transmit rotation to the shaft 94. As shown herein, this is accomplished by a pawl 100 (FIG. rigidly secured to the shaft 94 and disposed within a central bore 102 of the pinion 96. The bore 102 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced inwardly directed radial shoulders 104 whereby rotation of the pinion 96 in one direction causes the pawl (or pawls) 100 to engage one of the shoulders 104 for locking the shaft 94 to the pinion 96 for simultaneous rotation therebetween. However, rotation of the pinion 96 in the opposite direction causes the pawl 100 to slide off the shoulders 104 and ride freely within the bore 102, thus precluding any rotation of the shaft 94 with the pinion 96.

The brush element 88 further includes a plurality of rods 107 extending substantially parallel with respect to the shaft 94 and concentrically arranged with respect thereto. The rods 106 are supported by a plurality of spaced support members 108 secured to the shaft 94 in any suitable manner (not shown), and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses '1 10, each recess 110 for receiving a rod 106 thereon. The rods 106 are removably secured to the supports 108 and within the respective recesses 110 in any suitable manner, such as by angular clamp members 112 bolted or otherwise secured to the supports 108. The supports 108 move simultaneously with the shaft 94 and thus cause the rods 106 to rotate about the axis of the shaft 94 upon rotation of the shaft 94. At least one of the rods 106 is provided with a plurality of bristles 114 extending radially outward therefrom in one direction as particularly shown in FIG. 8. It is preferable to provide bristles 114 in two oppositely disposed rods 106, but it will be apparent that bristles may be provided in any desired number of the rods 106, and any desired number of the rods 106 may be provided around the shaft 94. As the rods 106 rotate about the axis of the shaft 94, the bristles 114 will provide an arcuate sweeping action for the apparatus 10. It is to be noted that the cover 78 is preferably slightly spaced from the outer periphery inscribed by the moving bristles 114 for precluding interference during the use of the apparatus 10. However, the plate 86 is preferably disposed very close to the outer ends of the bristles 114 during rotation thereof for facilitating the sweeping action during a ball retrieving operation as will be hereinafter set forth.

A handle member 116 is provided for the apparatus and as shown herein comprises a substantially U-shaped rod having the opposite ends thereof anchored or suitably secured to the sideplates 76 of the brush unit 12. The handle 116 facilitates manual pushing or movement of the apparatus 10 over the surface of a field, tennis court, arena, or other area wherein it is desired to retrieve balls 118 (FIG. 4). Of course, any area or space which may be present between the bristles 114 and the sideplates 76 may be closed or blocked in any suitable manner to preclude any escape passageway for the balls 118 being retrieved by the apparatus 10.

As the apparatus 10 is pushed over the area in a forward direction, the wheels 34 and 36 are rotated in a direction for transmitting rotation to the shaft 94 and thus the brush element 88 is rotated in a direction for sweeping toward the receiving chamber 116 and as indicated by the arrow 119 in FIG. 4. When a ball 118 is encountered by the brush element 88 the ball is swept in the direction of the arrow 120 in FIG. 4. The bristles 114, moving either in contact with or in close proximity with the inwardly directed surface of the curved plate 86, efficiently retain the balls 118 for casting or throwing thereof in a substantially vertical upward path, as indicated by the arrow 120 in FIG. 4. The balls are knocked against the deflector plate 80, and are then deflected into the receiving or storage chamber 16 as indicated in FIG. 4. The deflector substantially precludes any accidental loss of the balls 118 prior to disposition thereof in the chamber 16, and the screen or mesh material 28 reduces any bouncing action of the balls as they are captured within the chamber 16.

In order to retrieve any balls 118 which may be lodged against a wall, fence, or the like, the apparatus 10 may be pushed in a forward direction toward the ball in such a manner that the plate 70, or plate 72, will ride along the surface of the fence, and the respective forward plate 66 or 68 will engage the ball. The respective flange 58 or 60 cooperates with the respective arm 42 or 44 for efficiently directing the ball into the path of the brush element 88, whereupon the ball may be quickly and easily swept up and discharged into the chamber 16 as hereinbefore set forth. Of course, the arms 42 and 44 may be pivoted to the out-of-the-way position therefor (not shown) ifdesired when they are not in use.

When the apparatus 10 is pulled in a rearward direction for any reason, the wheels 34 and 36 are rotated in a reverse direction whereupon no rotation is transmitted to the shaft 94, and the brush element 88 is not rotated. Thus, the overall manipulation of the apparatus 10 is facilitated in that there is substantially no resistance to rearward maneuvering of the device, and no balls can be swept out of the apparatus. In addition, the basket or chamber 16 may be easily manually removed when filled or partially filled with retrieved balls for facilitating access thereto for recovery and reuse thereof.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel tennis ball retrieving apparatus wherein balls may be quickly and easily swept into a receiving chamber in a manner substantially precluding accidental loss of the balls during the retrieving operation. The novel apparatus is particularly designed and constructed for maintaining the balls in close proximity with the brush element bristles during the sweeping operation whereby the balls are efficiently moved into contact with a deflector plate for transferring the balls into the receiving chamber. The forward movement of the apparatus actuates the sweeping element for the retrieving operation whereby rearward movement of the apparatus disengages the sweeping element from actuation for facilitating the handling of the apparatus during the retrieving operation. The weight of the accumulation of balls within the retrieving chamber is maintained substantially low with respect to the ground or field surface, thus further increasing the ease of operation of the device. In addition, the entire receiving chamber may be removed from the apparatus for facilitating removal of the retrieved balls from the device. The novel apparatus is simple and efficient in operation and economical and durable in construction.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. A ball retrieving apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of wheels carried by the frame, a brush unit journaled in the frame for rotation during forward movement of the apparatus for picking up balls, a ball receiving chamber secured to the frame in the proximity of the brush unit for receiving balls therefrom, arcuate ramp means provided for the brush unit for facilitating picking up of the balls, and deflector plate means provided for the brush unit for knocking the picked up bails into the receiving chamber, wherein the brush unit comprises drive shaft means, and means cooperating between the drive shaft means and at least one of the wheels for transmitting rotation in one direction only to the drive shaft means, wherein the last-mentioned means includes a pinion carried by the drive shaft means, internal ring gear means provided on at least one of the wheels and engageable with the pinion for transmitting rotation thereto during rotation of the said one wheel, pawl means carried by the drive shaft means, internal shoulder means provided on the pinion and engageable by the pawl means upon rotation of the pinion in one direction only for transmitting rotation to the drive shaft means in one direction only.

2. A ball retrieving apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of wheels carried by the frame, a brush unit journaled in the frame for rotation during forward movement of the apparatus for picking up balls, a ball receiving chamber secured to the frame in the proximity of the brush unit for receiving balls therefrom, arcuate ramp means provided for the brush unit for facilitating picking up of the balls, deflector plate means provided for the brush unit for knocking the picked up balls into the receiving chamber, and oppositely disposed diverging arm member carried by the supporting frame, means provided on the outer extremity of said arm members for engaging balls lodged against a vertically extending surface and directing said balls into the path of the brush unit for retrieving thereof.

3 A ball retrieving apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the diverging arms are pivotally secured for movement to an out-of-the-way position during periods of nonuse. 

1. A ball retrieving apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of wheels carried by the frame, a brush unit journaled in the frame for rotation during forward movement of the apparatus for picking up balls, a ball receiving chamber secured to the frame in the proximity of the brush unit for receiving balls therefrom, arcuate ramp means provided for the brush unit for facilitating picking up of the balls, and deflector plate means provided for the brush unit for knocking the picked up balls into the receiving chamber, wherein the brush unit comprises drive shaft means, and means cooperating between the drive shaft means and at least one of the wheels for transmitting rotation in one direction only to the drive shaft means, wherein the last-mentioned means includes a pinion carried by the drive shaft means, internal ring gear means provided on at least one of the wheels and engageable with the pinion for transmitting rotation thereto during rotation of the said one wheel, pawl means carried by the drive shaft means, internal shoulder means provided on the pinion and engageable by the pawl means upon rotation of the pinion in one direction only for transmitting rotation to the drive shaft means in one direction only.
 2. A ball retrieving apparatus comprising a supporting frame, a plurality of wheels carried by the frame, a brush unit journaled in the frame for rotation during forward movement of the apparatus for picking up balls, a ball receiving chamber secured to the frame in the proximity of the brush unit for receiving balls therefrom, arcuate ramp means provided for the brush unit for facilitating picking up of the balls, deflector plate means provided for the brush unit for knocking the picked up balls into the receiving chamber, and oppositely disposed diverging arm member carried by the supporting frame, means provided on the outer extremity of said arm members for engaging balls lodged against a vertically extending surface and directing said balls into the path of the brush unit for retrieving thereof.
 3. A ball retrieving apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the diverging arms are pivotally secured for movement to an out-of-the-way position during periods of nonuse. 